True Champagne is named from the area of France,anywhere else its called Sparkling...

[Duncan H]

...Wine.? So, whats stopping,say Scotland naming a town called Whisky, then getting the rights to the word Whisky. Russia, naming a town called Vodka, then having rights on the vodka market? Could this ever happen? And if not, why not?

[Golden]

you can make champagne and call it champagne, france doesn't "own the rights" to the word champagne. it's just that people who know better understand that champagne is a district in france where champagne originated. personally i like Asti Spumati, from italy.